Face it chaps, women go for the Rambo look if survival is on the line

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Women were more likely to rate masculine-looking faces as attractive in countries with high levels of infectious diseaseKaren Ballard/Lionsgate/AP

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Male faces indicating from left to right: high testosterone with high cortisol, high testosterone with low cortisol, low testosterone with high cortisol, low testosterone with low cortisolMoore et al/Proceedings of the Royal Society

Women who live in healthier countries are attracted to more feminine-looking
men, while in countries plagued by diseases, the preference is for manlier
features, according to scientists.

The study suggests that a butch appearance is valued more highly in countries
where a robust immune system is critical to survival. By contrast, British
women showed no particular preference for faces typical of men with high
testosterone.

Fhionna Moore, the psychologist at Dundee University who led the study, said:
“In the UK we like laid-back non-aggressive looking men.”

The study of women in 13 countries found that they were more likely to